Package divider



Aug. 17, 1937. J. w. CAPSTlCk 2,090,183

PACKAGE DIVIDER Filed Nov. 18, 1956 INVENTOR J26" wax (2M a Q 4...; W

nrromvs Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PACKAGE DIVIDER John William Capstick, Verdun, Quebec,

Canada Application November 18, 1936, Serial No. 111,374

In Canada December 18, 1935 6 Claims.

The invention relates to a package divider, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing that forms part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the dividing of original containers in such a manner that the individual packages retain their association with the container, and in furnishing a tool for parting the container along the lines of the scheme of packing the individual packages, as pointed out in the claims for novelty following a description in detail of the cutter and accompanying measuring bar.

The objects of the invention are to reduce Warehouse costs of sorting out goods received for reshipment and effect great economy in packaging the sorted goods, in fact so arrange mattersas to utilize the original container for the reshipment package without materially disturbing the contents; to so divide original containers holding delicately packaged goods that the contents remain whole and undamaged; to provide a package divider that can be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the walls of the container, to avoid the contents in their known disposition within the container; to retain the contents in their original clean and fresh condition without handling or exposure during the process of reshipping; to facilitate distribution from main or common warehouses and thereby ensure despatch which is so very important in chain store work, where the time and place are so very important in handling operations; and generally to provide an efficient and economical system of distribution from an intermediate warehouse.

In the drawing, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a package with the device engaging it and showing the package partly cut by the knife.-

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the divided package showing the contents undisturbed.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the cutting member secured in the block and mounted on the gauge bar.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the handles and showing the package engaging surfaces.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the handles showing the gauging or setting edge.

Figure '7 is a sectional elevational view of one of the handles.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawing, the package is indicated by the numeral 15 and in Figure 1 is shown as partly out along the line l6 by the package divider.

The package divider comprises a main gauge or measuring bar I! graduated on its upper face 18 into equal divisions l9, preferably inches and parts of inches, and these divisions are marked from zero at the center of the bar to a maximum at the outer ends.

The bar H is preferably made of half round section, the rounded surface 20 being. the lower surface.

Slidably mounted on the bar I! is a cutter block 2 I. An upstanding bracket 22 extends vertically from one edge of the block 2! and carries a clamp plate 23 by means of the bolts 24. These bolts 24 have wing nuts 25 whereby the cutting knife 2E5, adjustably mounted between the bracket 22 and the clamp plate, can be secured at the desired angle and level in respect to the package to be cut.

The cutting knife 26 is tapered at its lower end to form a piercing point, and is provided with cutting edges at 21 and 28.

A thumb screw 29 is provided for locking the cutter block 2! at the desired position on the gauge bar I1. A shim plate 39 protects the grad uated surface of the gauge bar I! from injury by the endof the thumb screw 29.

The handles 30 have the longitudinal bore 31 to receive the gauge bar I1, and are placed one on either side of the cutter block 2|. These handles 30 are in the form of T members. The transverse bars 32 of the T are undercut at 33 to provide a vertical surface 34 and a transversely curved bearing surface 35. The surfaces 34 provide stops for the handles against the edges of the package I5, while the curved surfaces 35 provide bearing and sliding surfaces for the package divider on the surface of the package.

The top surfaces of the handles 30 are cut out to a depth corresponding to the depth of the surfaces 34 from the face of the transverse bars 32 of the handles, to expose the gauge bar in line with the edge of the package. The edge 36 being the guide in combination with the graduations on the gauge bar for the proper spacing of the handles in respect to the package.

Screws 31 are threaded in the apertures 38 in the handles to secure them on the gauge bar I! in the position in which they are set.

In the operation of the device, the cutter block 2| is set preferably at the zero mark on the gauge rod ll, so that the knife 26 is also in line with the zero mark, and is secured in that position by the screw 29.

The handles 30 are then spaced on the gauge bar so that the edges 36 come in line with the graduations indicating half the length of the package, if it is to be cut in two equal parts. This setting being varied according to the proportion of the package it is desired to cut, but at all times the distance between the edges 36 is equal to the width of the package, for it is this width which controls the setting of the surfaces 34 which abut against the sides or ends of the package.

When the device has been set, it is placed across one face of the package and pressed down so that the point of the knife pierces the Wall of The device is then drawn so that stroke until the four surfaces have been cut. The

surfaces 34 keep the device in alignment during the process of cutting. The curved surfaces 35 rest on top of the package and provide runners whereby the device may be moved back and forth easily on the surface of the package, and in fact will give a slightly rotary effect to the knife when desired, for greater cutting effect on the material of the package.

When the four surfaces of the package have been cut the two halves are separated and placed open side up without disturbing the contents.

The vertical adjustment of the knife depends entirely upon the contents of the package, greater care of adjustment being necessary where the contents are done up in paper or lead foil, such as tea, etc.

What I claim is:

1. In a package divider, a measuring rod forming a slideway for a cutter operating on'either side of and distanced from handles likewise slidable on said rod, transverse bars on the inner ends of said handles undercut to provide vertical gauging surfacesand horizontal bearing surfaces, and having cut outs on their top surfaces to expose the measuring rod in line with the said gauging surfaces.

2. In a package divider, a measuring bar forming a slideway for a cutter block, a cutting member set transversely on said block, end handles likewise slidable on said bar and having transverse bars at their inner ends, said transverse bars being undercut to provide vertical gauging surfaces and upwardly curving bearing surfaces, and a gauging edge on the upper surface of said handles in line with the undercut vertical gauging surface.

3. In a package divider, a measuring bar having graduations thereon, a block slidably mounted on said bar, a knife adjustably mounted on said block, at one end thereof, guide handles slidable on said measuring bar and positioned on either side of said block, said handles being radially undercut below the bar to provide a vertical gauge face and a curved bearing surface for sliding and rocking the divider in parallel movement along the package during the cutting operation.

4. In a package divider, a measuring bar forming a'slideway, a cutter adjustably secured on said bar, handle guides likewise slidable on said bar, said handles having their inner ends trans-vv versely undercut to form vertical gauge faces and horizontal bearing surfaces, adapted when-se cured in position on the measuring bar to contact the sides and the surface of the packag to be cut. 7

5. In a package divider, a measuring bar forming a slideway, a cutter adjustably securedon said bar, handle guides: likewise slidable ,on said 6. In a package divider, a measuringbar having graduations on its upper surface increasing from zero at the centre of the bar, a cutter block slidable on said bar, a knife carried by said block and adjustable therein in respect to the level of the measuring bar, handle guides likewise slidable on said bar, said handles having their inner ends transversely undercutto forrn vertical gauge faces and horizontal bearing surfaces, adapted when secured in position on the measuringbarto contact'the sides and surface of the'packag to be cut.

JOHN WILLIAM CAPSTICK. 

